[40] Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Flashcards
What is acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?
A type of cancer that starts from lymphocytes in the bone marrow
When does acute lymphoblastic leukaemia present?
It can present in adults and children, but is more often diagnosed in younger people
What % of leukaemias in children does acute lymphoblastic leukaemia account for?
80%
What is the peak age of onset of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?
2-5 years
What kind of cells are the malignant cells in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia?
Lymphoid precursor cells that are arrested in an early stage of development
What causes the arrest of development of lymphoid precursor cells in ALL?
An abnormal expression of genes
What can the abnormal expression of genes result from in ALL?
Often a result of chromosomal translocations or abnormalities in chromosome number
Why is there a reduction in normal blood cells in ALL?
Because the lymphoblasts replace the normal marrow elements, resulting in a decreased production of normal blood cells
What is the result in the reduced production of normal blood cells in ALL?
- Anaemia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Neutropenia
Where else in the body can lymphoblasts infiltrate in ALL?
Outside the marrow, particularly in the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes
What are the risk factors for ALL?
- Genetic syndromes
- Identical twin with ALL
- Significant radiation exposure
- Prior chemotherapy
Give 2 examples of genetic syndromes that increase the risk of ALL
- Down syndrome
- Li-Fraumeni syndrome
Describe the onset of presentation of ALL
In most children it presents insidiously over several weeks, however in some children the illness progresses very quickly
What do the clinical signs of ALL result from?
Disseminated disease and systemic ill-health
What causes systemic ill-health in ALL?
Infiltration of bone marrow or other organ with leukaemic blast cells
What clinical features result from bone marrow infiltration in ALL?
- Anaemia
- Neutropenia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Bone pain
What symptoms might result from anaemia in ALL?
- Pallor
- Lethargy